QBs next year ..guesses and thoughts

[The Jackal]

Even though we didn't know it at the time there was clear separation at the QB position. If Roberts had not had injuries the others would have never seen the field except in mop up duty. Roberts was clearly the man. Hoping someone will step up this year. If not it could be a long season.

Which is what you would expect from a player who'd been in a D1 program four years longer than the other guys.

I liked what I saw from Grainger. We finally got to see some of his speed against Samford. His ball security wasn't great, and that has to improve. I think he's got a really high ceiling.

Again, with Furman's offensive line and our running game, that is going to take a lot of pressure off a young QB.

That statement is what concerns me going into this year.. Of the leaders, none have even RSoph level experience to lean on. OL and QB are areas where experience matters in a large way. I hope for the best and think our QB guys are talented ... just wish they were a year older in our system. Even the best guy is better as a Soph than as a Freshman. hopefully one of these guys steps up and we are set for three years.

I just don't want to hear people pumping up the QBs and then we have an 'ok' year and people say 'well, yeah, our QBs were inexperienced'.. My take is they are talented but w only a year of practice (and Grainger didn't really play QB in High School ! - this can't be overstated) I could see us dropping the ETSU type games from last year until we get some experience ...

Really hope the OL can help these guys have time to mature.

I think you make too much of this.

Experience is a great teacher. Still, young QBs lead their teams every year in college football. Will they make mistakes? Sure. Do all QBs make mistakes? Usually.

A few seasons ago we had TWO veteran QBs (Hannon and Blazejowski) and our offense stunk. Now we have a bunch of returning talent and an entire offensive line returning (which is probably the far more closer indicator to offensive success than QB experience).

[The Jackal]

Watched Shiflett's high school highlights. I think we will see a strong competition this summer at QB.

A bit like Grainger, it does not appear that Shiflett spent much (any?) time under center in high school. His HS offense has elements of what Furman likes to do out of the shotgun and single back looks.

He clearly can run and can throw on the run - two big parts of Furman's offense. That part of his game looks a lot like Blazejowski's - a guy who knows where his blocking is, can accelerate into the hole, and isn't afraid to take a hit. He also has a lot of similarities to what I saw on Hamp Sisson's film coming out of high school (though Shiflett is bigger).

What I didn't see a lot of in the film is the downfield throws. That may have just been how the high school offense was designed. I know Grainger can throw it to Berea, so it will be interesting to see how Shiflett fares with those big downfield throws that have become a staple of our offense.

[fufanatic]

From Mr Shiflett ( father) - Just shortened a lil' --- Had a great day at Furman yesterday. Luke is transferring from MTSU to Furman and will enroll in May or June. Very thankful for the opportunity at Middle as he had a great experience playing WR in every game as true freshman. He just wants opportunity to get back to playing QB and Furman offers that opportunity and is a great academic institution. ... Now Stacy just has to find some purple outfits. Amazing what a year of college will do.... Luke is up to 205lbs from 180lbs a year ago.

Somewhat reminds me of the situation with Chris Forcier when he transferred from UCLA. He too had been moved to wide receiver at the FBS level and wanted the chance to play QB. They key word in the father's statement re FU is "opportunity". It appear that our staff has promised him a chance to compete for the job and that is all. It's not as if he has lots of college QB experience. He is actually starting from behind our current candidates who all have a year in the system and in Grainger's case, a bit of experience. It's a question of whether the athleticism that attracted so much FBS attention will allow him to overcome and even surpass that advantage. The fact that he has significant game experience at WR in the MTSU program as a true freshman says a lot. He also seems to have a skill set that matches our offensive scheme and is a bright kid. It could be a really good pick up for Furman. Chris Forcier turned out to be a heckuva QB despite his alleged "difficulty with the play book" What already promised to be a heated competition in the summer will likely now be a real barn burner that is likely to produce some excellent QB play.

The word "opportunity" stood out to me as well. It's certainly a comforting word to hear from a transfer. You have to wonder though what exactly was said in those meetings that ultimately made him decide to sign on the dotted line. If he wasn't satisfied with seeing the field every game at WR for a team that played for its conference title and in a bowl game, would he be satisfied losing the QB competition and playing WR and/or punting for an FCS team that spreads the ball around A LOT to its RBs, TEs and WRs and who has a very impressive kicker/punter/KO guy? I guess we will find out, but I'm incredibly excited about the QB battle that will happen over the summer and the fall and feel much better about the position with three scholarship guys now on the roster.

[The Jackal]

From Mr Shiflett ( father) - Just shortened a lil' --- Had a great day at Furman yesterday. Luke is transferring from MTSU to Furman and will enroll in May or June. Very thankful for the opportunity at Middle as he had a great experience playing WR in every game as true freshman. He just wants opportunity to get back to playing QB and Furman offers that opportunity and is a great academic institution. ... Now Stacy just has to find some purple outfits. Amazing what a year of college will do.... Luke is up to 205lbs from 180lbs a year ago.

Somewhat reminds me of the situation with Chris Forcier when he transferred from UCLA. He too had been moved to wide receiver at the FBS level and wanted the chance to play QB. They key word in the father's statement re FU is "opportunity". It appear that our staff has promised him a chance to compete for the job and that is all. It's not as if he has lots of college QB experience. He is actually starting from behind our current candidates who all have a year in the system and in Grainger's case, a bit of experience. It's a question of whether the athleticism that attracted so much FBS attention will allow him to overcome and even surpass that advantage. The fact that he has significant game experience at WR in the MTSU program as a true freshman says a lot. He also seems to have a skill set that matches our offensive scheme and is a bright kid. It could be a really good pick up for Furman. Chris Forcier turned out to be a heckuva QB despite his alleged "difficulty with the play book" What already promised to be a heated competition in the summer will likely now be a real barn burner that is likely to produce some excellent QB play.

The word "opportunity" stood out to me as well. It's certainly a comforting word to hear from a transfer. You have to wonder though what exactly was said in those meetings that ultimately made him decide to sign on the dotted line. If he wasn't satisfied with seeing the field every game at WR for a team that played for its conference title and in a bowl game, would he be satisfied losing the QB competition and playing WR and/or punting for an FCS team that spreads the ball around A LOT to its RBs, TEs and WRs and who has a very impressive kicker/punter/KO guy? I guess we will find out, but I'm incredibly excited about the QB battle that will happen over the summer and the fall and feel much better about the position with three scholarship guys now on the roster.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but if it gets to the point where you aren't the guy at QB for two different teams in two different subdivisions, it may just be you aren't meant to play that position in Division 1.

There's no shame in that. Some guys want to play a certain position and will continue to hunt for opportunities to do that. We do not have an entrenched starter at QB, so I would hope everyone comes to camp ready to do battle.

I'd be interested to see late on how, if at all, the coaching staff may use the guy who doesn't win out the QB job. You have at least two guys (Grainger and Shiflett) that have played a lot of WR.

[Jasper]

You make a very good point, Jackal. All three of these main competitors for the QB job are superior athletes. There is no reason that the ones who are not named starter don't get on the field in some capacity. It also appears to me that Luke Shiflet went looking for an FU situation rather than the other way around. i.e. a place where there is not an entrenched QB returning. But I also know that CCH was pretty confident in what he had coming back and was not actively pursuing a transfer. He is also an honest man and I am sure he let the young man know exactly the situation in which he would be competing. Going back to Forcier as an example, that young man may not have been a QB for UCLA but he sure was for Furman and he faced a very difficult situation when he arrived. It will all play out.

[The Jackal]

You make a very good point, Jackal. All three of these main competitors for the QB job are superior athletes. There is no reason that the ones who are not named starter don't get on the field in some capacity. It also appears to me that Luke Shiflet went looking for an FU situation rather than the other way around. i.e. a place where there is not an entrenched QB returning. But I also know that CCH was pretty confident in what he had coming back and was not actively pursuing a transfer. He is also an honest man and I am sure he let the young man know exactly the situation in which he would be competing. Going back to Forcier as an example, that young man may not have been a QB for UCLA but he sure was for Furman and he faced a very difficult situation when he arrived. It will all play out.

I am underselling his QB skills, but I still think Grainger could be a nightmare in Furman's hybrid TE/WR role.

[Paladin91]

The big question mark is whether Grainger and/or Sisson can grow as much as we expect over one year. Grainger was very inconsistent and fumbled the ball a lot. If that problem continues into early this year, it doesn't matter how raw and talented he is, he won't be the starter spotting opposing teams easy points. I like the fact that we'll see some competition from Luke Shiflet - keep in my he was a 3-star recruit coming out of HS, which is higher than both Grainger and Sisson. If the QB competition makes each QB better, that's all we can wish for. However, in my opinion, it's a weak position on the field for us until one of them steps up and proves otherwise.

[THPaladin]

Man I wish I had know about this forum a long time ago..... it’s awesome. Love the insight. ok. I do some business in NW GA ( Dalton area) and a contact of mine there that follows high school sports closely ( think he has high school age boys ) knows Shifletts family fairly well. This is the first time he has ever mentioned him to me but evidently he knew he was transferring to Furman and we talked about it a little earlier today I had very little to contribute other than what our current QB situation is. Here is what I learned..

We offered him out of high school even though it does not show that on recruiting websites. Shiflett really liked Furman and Hendrix but he was already committed to MTSU. Shiflett made a few recruiting trips to Furman. Here is what happened at MTSU. My guy said Shiflett did well during summer camp at QB but the head coaches son was a fifth or sixth year senior ( all conference type player). Shiflett was just wanting to be in the mix for the number 2 spot. Two weeks before their first game with Vanderbilt a few WR got banged up and they put Shiflett at WR just to get through a practice one day. Evidently he did very well and ended up in their two deep all season. Played in every game. He was under the impression he would be in the mix for QB in the Spring but at start of spring OC Informed him that they were moving to a 2 Back set instead of a 4 wide set and that they were signing a 23 year old sophomore JUCO QB that is 6”4 240ish. They wanted Shiflett to stay at WR or maybe play safety.

My contact said three main things:

1. Shiflett and his family really like Furman and did from the beginning. But like so many kids you sometime go to the highest level you can because at the time it seems like best thing to do. He broke his ankle after he had committed to MTSU his senior season . He was getting calls from Miss State, UNC, and a couple other Power 5 up until the injury. They like the culture and academics of Furman as much as anything.

2. My guy said that Shiflett ( for what it’s worth if anything ) May be the best all around athlete he has seen in NW GA the last 20 years or so. I guess that explains how a kid that has always been a QB practices at WR for a couple of weeks and ends up playing in every game for a good FBS team.

3. He said that Shiflett put himself in transfer portal and his HS coach made one call for him..... Furman. Said Shiflett will enroll in May or June

I think this is good for Sisson and Grainger. Would not surprise me if Grainger or Shiflett ended up at another spot if QB does not work out. Saw graingers athleticism last year and Shiflett appears to be very athletic and versatile. I’m so excited about this season. At least this gives us something else to talk about during the boring sports days of early summer. I feel better about the QB spot even though all are inexperienced. As someone on here said earlier these things have a way of settling themselves. Will be fun to watch.

[gofurman]

great info THPaladin !! thanks for the input and welcome to the board - tell your friends about this forum. Stumpy does a great job keeping it running

[Jasper]

The big question mark is whether Grainger and/or Sisson can grow as much as we expect over one year. Grainger was very inconsistent and fumbled the ball a lot. If that problem continues into early this year, it doesn't matter how raw and talented he is, he won't be the starter spotting opposing teams easy points. I like the fact that we'll see some competition from Luke Shiflet - keep in my he was a 3-star recruit coming out of HS, which is higher than both Grainger and Sisson. If the QB competition makes each QB better, that's all we can wish for. However, in my opinion, it's a weak position on the field for us until one of them steps up and proves otherwise.

A very realistic assessment IMO. There is a big question mark at the position until somebody steps up and takes the job. The addition of an athlete of Shiflett's class makes me feel better that will happen. Although I don't know this young man, I do know Grainger and Sisson and I can assure you that they are each working very hard to get better and win the job. Should be some very interesting practices to watch this summer.

[The Jackal]

The big question mark is whether Grainger and/or Sisson can grow as much as we expect over one year. Grainger was very inconsistent and fumbled the ball a lot. If that problem continues into early this year, it doesn't matter how raw and talented he is, he won't be the starter spotting opposing teams easy points. I like the fact that we'll see some competition from Luke Shiflet - keep in my he was a 3-star recruit coming out of HS, which is higher than both Grainger and Sisson. If the QB competition makes each QB better, that's all we can wish for. However, in my opinion, it's a weak position on the field for us until one of them steps up and proves otherwise.

A very realistic assessment IMO. There is a big question mark at the position until somebody steps up and takes the job. The addition of an athlete of Shiflett's class makes me feel better that will happen. Although I don't know this young man, I do know Grainger and Sisson and I can assure you that they are each working very hard to get better and win the job. Should be some very interesting practices to watch this summer.

I expect Grainger's game to improve significantly. He's got the physical tools and talent to be a superb player.

I'm not a QB guru, but a lot of what I saw last year is correctable stuff.

[sluggo]

Congrats to the winners.

[DeepPurple]

It is amazing how far this program has come in 2 years. IMO, this is "fixable" stuff.

[Fred Garvin]

Congrats to the winners.

And congrats to Sluggo for having the greatest new avatar of 2019

[FUBeAR]

Congrats to the winners.

And congrats to Sluggo for having the greatest new avatar of 2019

True...but might either of these have been better choices?